Charles Lindbergh Lands Spirit of St. Louis at Moundsville

Thousands Line Rank To See "Lone Eagle" Bring Famous Plane To Beautiful Landing

Left Immediately For Wheeling To Address Mass Meeting This Evening

Takes Off From Langin Field At Noon Friday

Before a colorful crowd estimated at from twelve to fifteen thousand, "We" landed at Langin Field this
afternoon exactly at two o'clock. It was a beautiful landing.

First appearing as a tiny speck far against the northern horizon the famed monoplane, "Spirit of St.
Louis" rapidly drew nearer until there was no doubt to the vast assemblage below that at last the "Lone
Eagle" was approaching.

Flying at an altitude of about 2,000 feet at a speed estimated at eighty miles an hour Col. Lindbergh
piloted the mechanical half of "We" due south and directly over Langin Field. Reaching a point over
Moundsville he circled over the city several times, negotiated several difficult air maneuvers and
swooping down until he was a scant two hundred feet above the field flew his plane the length of the
field, a maneuver that is practiced by experienced pilots as it enables them to get their bearings before
attempting the actual landing.

Heading north Lindy flew over Glen Dale, circled back over the field then flew north and circled again.
This time he was ready for the landing. Coming gently down in a side slip Lindy easily landed the ship in
what airmen on the field declared was a beautiful and perfect landing.

The Welcome

Col. Lindbergh was then waxed over to a spot near the hangar and, with several field men hanging on
the wings, taxied the flight famous monoplane to a spot near the hangar and shut off the motor.

Lindy then proved to the hundred or so committee members, newspaper scribes and photographers
who were grouped near the hangar his great love for his plane. Instead of quitting the ship as soon as
the propellor had made its final whirl and greeting the official reception committee Lindy chose to
remain seated for several minutes adjusting a few minor details. He carefully replaced the celluloid
windows and finally stepped from the plane.

A hearty round of applause went up but aside from that the group around was oddly silent, not being
able to comprehend that the man who was the first to successfully complete a non-stop flight from New
York to Paris was actually before them. There were a few cheers but for the most part there was
silence.

As Col. Lindbergh stepped from the plane he was greeted by members of the Wheeling committee and
Mayor Jesse D. H. Sullivan of Moundsville. Major O'Conner, of West Virginia state police, was
included in the group of officials to welcome him as were several other notables.

After exchanging a few words Lindy then faced a veritable barrage of camera men. He posed once
with "Miss Wheeling," long haired beauty, and then with Mayor Steen, of Wheeling, Mayor Sullivan of
Moundsville and a number of other persons. For several minutes Lindbergh graciously permitted himself
to be "shot" by almost a score of photographers.

Rushed Through City

He was then escorted to a waiting automobile and the caravan, preceeded [sic] by a heavy battery of
state troopers, began the drive to Wheeling. An approaching train headed south on the B. & O. tracks
threatened to halt the procession but noting the cars leaving the field the train was brought to a halt and
the party permitted to proceed.

As the party neared the top of the hill the mass of people gave voice to a great cheer with "You Lindy!"
being the favorite ejaculation. The crowds threatened to press forward to such an extent that the street
would be completely blocked but good work by state troopers precluded any possibility of this.

Down Western avenue the party went between long lines of people who lined both sides of the avenue
six deep clear to the Western avenue bridge.

Reaching Seventh street the party turned east. With all cars prohibited from the streets to be traversed
and with traffic policemen stationed at every intersection the Wheeling contingent bearing Col.
Lindbergh lost no time in passing through Moundsville.

Hundreds of people who lined Moundsville's street for hours before time for the caravan to pass got
merely a glimpse of Lindy as the car in which he was being conveyed was driven at a speed of not less
than forty miles per hour.

The caravan proceeded to Jefferson avenue and then north on Jefferson avenue to the county road,
which led directly to State Route 2 at the Tomlinson homestead.

Was Attired Simply

Lindbergh's coming aroused Moundsville people as nothing has aroused them in years. The town
turned out almost solidly to pay homage to Lindy whose pluck has been lauded by notables the world
over. Rising from obscure boyhood to fame which has spread to every corner of the globe Lindy has
remained unspoiled and in so doing has endeared himself in the hearts of America's millions.

Recognized as the most photographed man in the world Col. Lindbergh looks exactly like his pictures.
Tall, angular and very thin there could be no mistaking Lindy when he drove his plane up to the hangar.
The wind and sun have made him very tan while his light hair blew about his forehead.

When Col. Lindbergh stepped from his plane he towered several inches above the tallest men in the
group. He was attired simply, being garbed in civilian clothes and wearing a leather jacket and helmet.

He appeared to have a pleasing personality, and as he rode by the crowds massed along State Route 2
to greet him, he waved his hand and smiled.

Advance Plane Lands

Lindbergh's visit in this section is running almost precisely on schedule. At one-thirty Donald E. Keyhoe
of the department of commerce personal aide to Colonel Lindbergh on the tour and its business
manager, Phillip R. Lowe, and Charles Kinkaid. Lindbergh's advance men were the first to land at the
Moundsville airport. Flying a plan similar to Lindy's famous ship they landed on time and scarcely had
Keyhoe given his instructions to the committee, telling them to keep the field clear and to permit no one
near the plane when Lindy first appeared far to the north.

A small Waco plane which landed on the field previous to Keyhoe's arrival was from Mayer Field at
Bridgevill, Pa., near Pittsburgh, was mistaken by some for Lindy's aides.

Will Not Dedicate Plane

A request made by Rev. M. F. Compton that Col. Lindbergh spare a few seconds tomorrow to break
a bottle of water over the first ship to be constructed by the Moundsville Airplane Corporation was
refused by Keyhoe who explained that hundreds of such requests are made daily and that if he were to
establish a precedent he would have to continue the practice. The new plane has been named the "Lone
Eagle" and is dedicated to Lindbergh.

Keyhoe was not prepared to state the exact time Lindy's hop off will be made tomorrow. Lindy will
leave here to fly for Dayton, Ohio where he will address another mass meeting. "Slim" will probably
take-off about noon however. Another great crowd is expected to see him leave.